Gasps From A Dying Art Form

Host Tristan Bruns interviews Jim Siegelman, co-author of 'The Book of Tap' (1977). They discuss the history and philosophy of tap dance, interviewing famous dancers, and exploring tropes in tap dance history. They also touch on the portrayal of dancing on slave ships, the persistence of blackface minstrelsy, and the influence of Kurt Vonnegut's work on their career choice in tap dance.

Join Tristan Bruns as he explores 'The Book of Tap' by Jerry Ames and Jim Siegelman in part 2 of 'The Hidden History of Tap Dance Histories' series. Discover the sections 'Tap Patter,' 'Hollywood and the Golden Age of Tap,' 'Lost in the Shuffle,' and 'Tap Comes Back.' Learn about the history, philosophy, and quotes from famous dancers in the book. Dive into the burning question of 'Why Tap?' and its connection to the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War. Get ready for an entertaining and enlightening dive into the world of tap dance!

The podcast explores tap dance history through syllabi books, questioning popular tap dance talking points. It discusses the distribution of tap dance histories and critiques white supremacist historical revisionism. The origins, influences, and cultural contributions of tap dance are explored, along with the controversial content of blackface minstrel numbers. It raises questions about systemic racism and the impact of pressure groups on educational textbooks. Trey's life story, small town minstrel shows, and Richard Delgado's views on minority scholars are also discussed.

Episode Notes A rare Gasps interview with the co-founder and current director of the M.A.D.D. Rhythms dance company and the non-profit Making A Different Dancing Organization—Barrett is also the Executive Producer on the Gasps podcast. Host Tristan Bruns talks with Barrett about the new M.A.D.D. Rhythms Podcast Network, Barrett's own upcoming podcast and discuss how important learning the history of tap dance is to becoming a complete tap dance artist. Also, M.A.D.D. Rhythms is celebrating it's 20 year anniversary with a huge fundraising campaign with some truly unique and exciting rewards — check out the M.A.D.D. Rhythms GoFundMe page to make a donation and MaddRhythms.com for reward details. Support this program by joining us on Patreon. 50% of all support goes to the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy at the Harold Washington Cultural Center on Chicago's historic South Side. Link to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/GFADAF Or support this program through a one time donation in our tip jar! Thank you to our Patreon supporter Liz Rancourt-Smith. You're the OG, the VIP, the...what other triple letters can I, oh yeah—you're the MVP of this program! The Gasps From A Dying Art Form Podcast is a member of the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Podcast Network. #RespectTheDance Support Gasps From A Dying Art Form by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/gasps-from-a-dying-art-form This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Author Brian Seibert discusses his book 'What The Eye Hears', uncovering tap dance history and analyzing the tap styles of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. They explore positive and negative book reviews, controversies, and the importance of firsthand reading. The speaker highlights Margaret Morrison, fundraising goals, and expresses gratitude towards Patreon supporters.

In this podcast, host Tristan Bruns explores the concept of paradigm shifts and their application to tap dance and scientific revolutions. He discusses the cyclical nature of tap dance and scientific discovery, the resistance to change in both fields, and the importance of embracing new paradigms. The podcast also touches on the evolution of tap dance and the parallels between structured practice in tap dance and normal scientific research. Overall, it offers unique insights into the intersection of tap dance and philosophy.

Explore the dark history of international minstrelsy and its impact on various countries. Learn about the origins of tap dance and how it was influenced by minstrelsy. Discover the importance of including minstrel histories in teaching critical race theory. Delve into the psychological impact of blackface on both white performers and black individuals.

This podcast explores the decline of tap dance as an art form and the theories behind it. It discusses the influence of rock and roll, racist portrayals in films, and the detrimental effect of stereotypes on tap dancing. The complexities of criticizing a black community leader during the Jim Crow era and the distortion of characters in plays are also analyzed.